Abstract
Ecosystems distributed in space have an effective size, reflecting both their absolute size (extent) and their fine-scale physical structure (viscosity). In this paper, a general mathematical model of a predator-prey interaction is presented via the phase-plane graphs of Rosenzweig and MacArthur (1963) to show one reason why ecosystems of larger effective size should persist longer than smaller ones: oscillations of population densities tend to be displaced farther from extinction thresholds-even in spatially homogeneous systems. Experimental results obtained by Gause and Luckinbill with protozoa and Huffaker with mites are interpreted in this context.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 185-195 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Oecologia |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1978 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics